Aeroplane



J. A. SMITH.

' AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17. 1921.

111111161 Nov. 15, 1921..

3 SHEETS-SHEET i.

J. A. SMITH.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, 1921..

1,39%?fi62, Patented Nov. 15, 1921 a ISHEETSSHEET 3.

ii TEE STATEfi JGSEPH A. SMITH,

rarest crater.

0F EDDY/I, TEXAS.

AEROPLANE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH A. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Edom, in the county of Van Zandt and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Aeroplane, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to aeroplane construction, the primary object of the invention being to provide a novel form of propelling means, whereby the current of air created by the propeller blades may be utilized for operating an air motor.

A further object of the invention is to provide meansfor guarding the air motor to insure the minimum resistance in the operation thereof.

A still further object of the invention is i to provide an airmotor having a novel form OED of air cups, whereby the entire force of the .airwill be directed to the motor shaft.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will .appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the in vcntion.

Referring to the drawings igure 1 is a plan view of an aeroplane constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View through one of the air tubes'of the aeroplane and showing an air motor as associated therewith.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 5 designates the frame of the aeroplane which may be of any general construction, the same being provided with the usual rudder 6 and lifting plane 7, the plane and rudder being operatedby suitable cables indicated at 8 and 9 respectively.

Supported above the frame of the aeroplane is a plane 10 which acts in conjunction with the plane 11 for supporting the aeroplane when the same is in operation, to cause the same to glide through the air.

Supported on each side of the frame is an air tube indicated at 12 through each 'of which tubes extends a propeller shaft Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

1921. Serial No. 478,365.

' 13 that has its forward end extending beyond the forward end of the tube associated therewith, as indicated at 14, where the same supports a. propeller indicated at 15. Mounted on each propeller shaft 13 is a beveled pinion 16 that meshes with a relatively large beveled pinion 17 carried on the ends of the shaft 18 that supports the rotor of the motor 19. whereby rotary movement ofthe shaft 18 imparts a relative rotary movement to the propeller shaft. I

Secured to the propeller shaft 13 are the propellers 20, 21 and 22 respectively, each propeller being arranged at an angle with respect to its adjacent propeller whereby the air created by one propeller will be picked up by its adjacent propeller and forced through the tube in which the propellers are operating.

Supported by the frame of the aeroplane, is a shaft 23 which has a plurality of radiating arms 24 thereon, each arm being cut away as at 25 to form an air pocket to rece1ve air passing through the air tube associated therewith. 'At the free end of each arm 24 is provided a cup 26 which is preferably cone-shaped to insure the maximum force of the air being directed to the arms 24, and as shown, the pockets are disposed so that the open ends thereof move adjacent to the rear ends of the tubes. Thus it will be seen that as the air is forced rearwardly through the tubes 12, the same is trapped by the cups 26 which in turn direct the force of the air to the arms to cause the rotation of the shaft 23.

Carried by the shaft 23 is a gear 27 that meshes with the pinion 28 carried on the main shaft of the generator 29 that gencrates electrical current and stores the same in the battery 30 which may be used for lighting electric lamps, or running other electrical appliances carried by the aeroplane.

In order that the air resistance to the air motorsgwill be reduced to a minimum, a guard 31is positioned adjacent to the air cups, the guard being relatively wide and having one end extending to a point to be connected to the air tube associated therewith, the opposite end of the guard lying under the air motor to direct the air downwardly beyond the cups of the air motor to prevent the back pressure of air from retarding the movement of the motor.

It might be further stated that suitable landing gear indicated at 32 forms a part of the aeroplane, and by means of which the machine may be supported on the ground surface.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is An aeroplane including a frame, air tubes supported on the frame, an air motor including a shaft, arms supported on the shaft, each of said arms having a groove formed therein, the grooves of the arms providing air pockets, and cups supported by the arms and adapted to receive air from the air tubes.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing 15 as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH A. SMITH. Witnesses:

IVY E. SIMPSON, AGNES RooKELLI. 

